principally
Americanadverb
adverb
Synonym Usage
See especially.
Etymology
Origin of principally
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at principal, -ly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For his part, Thomas writes as though history resides principally in legal texts, 19th-century dictionaries, and carefully parsed debates over sovereignty.
From Slate ● Jul. 2, 2026
Snider and team point out, though, that recent strength has been driven principally by a 16% surge in earnings-per-share growth estimates.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 8, 2026
The former would be principally against Qeshm Island, in concert with the United Arab Emirates, which has attacked Iran many times during the war.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 17, 2026
Some are principally for Westminster or international bodies to deal with.
From BBC ● May 5, 2026
Darcy took up a book; Miss Bingley did the same; and Mrs. Hurst, principally occupied in playing with her bracelets and rings, joined now and then in her brother’s conversation with Miss Bennet.
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
